2016 Pahlmeyer Wayfarer Vineyard Pinot Noir Mother Rock
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Mother Rock emerges from the steepest, east-facing slopes on the property. Intense, dark cherry fruit, crushed rocks, iron and smoke are some of the signatures in a Pinot that features savoriness and minerality more than fruit. Dense, dark and powerful, the 2016 needs time to unwind, but it is unquestionably very pretty and expressive.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From two co-fermented blocks, the medium ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Mother Rock leaps from the glass with chocolate-covered cherries, peppermint, violets and black soil notes plus nuances of lilacs, Sichuan pepper, garrigue and truffles. Medium-bodied, the perfumed black cherries fill the palate, supported by plush tannins and great freshness, finishing with some baking spice notes coming through.
Sourced from two blocks as well (blocks 3 and block 11) and from more sandstone soils in the vineyard (which is the mother rock of the site), the 2016 Pinot Noir Mother Rock saw 20% stems and the same 15 months in 67% new French oak. With a deep, incredibly floral character as well as classic jammy raspberries, toasted bread, and spice aromatics, this beauty is more full-bodied and powerful, with building tannin, obvious oak, and a great finish. Young and unevolved, hide bottle for at least 2-3 years. The big news at Wayfarer is the moving on of star winemaker Bibiana González Rave to focus on her own label and assistant winemaker Todd Kohn taking over the helm. Todd has been with Wayfarer since 2013 and certainly, along with Cleo Pahlmeyer, the vineyard and estate are in talented hand. All these 2016s were made by Bibiana, and as the notes and scores show, they’re truly sensational, world class wines.